Hollow block masonry construction



Jan. 2, 1940. 4 F. HEATH 2,185,l96

HQLLOW BLO CK MAS ONRY CONSTRUCT I ON Filed Oct. :51, 1935 :5sheets-Sheet 2 A A A P u HQ u u u .D D P n u P u l CJ AFP X P A A P A 'PP P D P F- I--Q Q l-P C' C' P 4l C A P IJ P IJ J Jan. 2, 1940. F. HEATH2,1s5,196

HOLLOW BLOCK MASONRY CONSTRUCTION.

Filed Oct. 31. 1935 3 sheets-Sheet 3 EEJUE 1 FEEE EEEJUE INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1940 maiss rATENT orricr.

2,185,196 V g HOLLOW BLOCK MASONItlrv CONSTRUCTIO-N VFrederick Heath,Tacoma, .'Wash., .assignor 'to The Wash., a corporation Vv-l'hiplicationOctober 31,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements'in hollow block` masonryconstruction, and more particularly torwhat is known as structuralburned clay hollow tile. and is concerned with a new formation of the.tile, new proportioning of dimensions thereof to increase theadaptabilityin use,v and finally With wall constructions composed inpartor in whole of these tile. v

4'I'he general object of my invention is to provide hollowbuildingblocks of a simple design whichmay be readily extrudedin theforming machine and burnedwithout cracking; Which, while light'inweight, will have load 'bearingand braci'ng webs positioned to resistall stresses enocuntered in structural walls; which will be soproporti'oned -that all theparts of a wall lmay 'be built in systematicbonding relation whether the wall is made all of blocksor in conjunctionWith brick, 'and will have'such form that the blocks 'may readilyassociate themselves with, all

the structural' details, such a's corners, jams,v

pilasters, chases, etc., resulting in strength and economyof'construction.v

In accomplishing the 'above'object, I provide a primary block having alength .equal to the length of .a standard brick; a height `eoual to thecombined thickness 'of three bricks and'two 4 intervening'mortar joints,anda Width -which is `desired thickness to support the load and providel'ateral'stiifness, while the next standard dimension, namely, twelveinch, is greater than necessary. `My tenand one-quarter inch wall meetsthe structural requirements of many buildings, such as 'residences andpanel walls of Skeleton 'frame construction, 'and thus not only savesmaterial and 4expense but' yenlarges the rooms `correspondingly. v

Anothervcharacteristic of -a wall With my 'tile and facing of brickV isthat there are no'through mortar joints, with'a result that the wallsare kept dry. Furthermore, by the use of my tilevI may build insulatedwalls in which there are substantiallyfno continuous air' passageways,the

:blocks being 4so laid in the Wall that the cells Heath Unit 'File`v('J-ornpany,`v Tacoma,

of vliliashington y 1935, serial no. 47,64s (cl. 72-1-41) of-each blockare sealed at the ends by faces of the adjacent blocks-crossing suchends.

fFinally, my blocks are so made that if laid up in'a single course toproduce asubstantially six inch ,partition wall, the formationof theblock gives greatstrength tothe wall whilethe mortar joints :atth'e endsof the blocks are keyed to each block by reasonof small cells in theblocks adjacent the opposite sides, as hereinafter explained.

My hollow block and walls made thereby or in conjunction with brick, areillustrated in the to the length of one standard brick (also equal` tothe thickness of three bricks plus two intervening mortar joints) and aWidth independent of brick dimensions, preferably six inches. Fig. 2 isa perspective of what I call a half-block, which has a Width and lengthequal to ,the block of Fig. 1 and a heght equal to half the heght of theblock lof that figure less half the thickness of a mortar joint; Fig. 3is a perspective of what I call a tWo-.thirds block, which has a heghtand Width equal to the block of Fig. 1, but a length equal to thethickness of two bricks plus a mortar joint. Fig. 4 is a perspective ofa stopped block, vwhich is of the same extreme dimensions as the blockof Fig. l, but with a cut-out portion, which, measured lengthwise of theVoids, is equal to the thickness of onevbrick plus a mortar joint, andhas av transverse extent equal to a brick Width plus a mortar joint.'Fig.- 5 is a perspective of the primary unit of the second character ofblock, having the length and thickness of a standard brick and a widthcorresponding to the block of Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 6is a perspective of ablock having a length and heght of the block 4of Fig. 5, but a Width ofsubstantially one-third thereof.` Fig. '7 is a Vertical section througha wall made by a single tier of brick with headers and employing ,myvblocks of Figs. 1 and 4 for back-up purposes. Fig. 8 is a perspective ofthe lwall of Fig. '7.l Fig. v9 is a Vertical section of a Wall emplcyingthe blocks of Figsl, 3 and 6 for back-up purposes. Fig. 10 is aperspective of the wall ofFig. 9. Fig. 11 is a perspective of a so-'called six-.inch Wall made by the blocks ofFig. 1

with the blocks of Figs. 2 and 5 adjacent the corners. The upper courseof brick in this view is supposed to rest directly in the mortar bed,surmounting the lower courses shown. Fig. 12 is a perspective of what Ihave called a quarter block, being a block having the Width and heightof Fig. 2, but a length equal to half that block less half a mortarjoint. Figs. 13 and 14 are illustrations of patterns bonds which may bemade by employing the blocks of Figs. 1, 2 and 12, and are intended tobe illustrative of Various arrangements which may be nadeby my blocks.`

Referring to Fig. 1, the primary block, designated A, is shown ascomprising an exterior shell consistng of the Vertical members Il] andIl,` horizontal members |2 and |3'. In the interior of the block are twoVertical webs |4 and l extending the entire height of the block andjoined at their tops and bottoms with the horizontal shell portions |2and l3 and joined at their outer sides with the Vertical shells I'andrIl by means of cross portions l6 arranged to leave a series of voidsbetween the web and shell. That block also has two intermediatehorizontal centrally located webs I'l and |8 which are spaced apart adistance oorresponding to the thickness of a mortar joint and at theirends join the Vertical webs l4 and l5.

The formation thus described results in a block with a series of voidsrunning from end to end and open at the ends. Thereare two majorvoids 20and 2! bounded by the internal Vertical webs and the internal horizontalwebs and the horizontal members of the shell. There is an intermediateshallow void 22 between the internal horizontal webs l 'l and I8 whichvoid exte-nds from the inner face of the Vertical web 14 to the innerface of th'e web l and has a height equal to that of a mortar joint. Thevoids between the Vertical web l4 or |5 and the vadjacent Vertical shellmember l or H comprise a small tubular passageway 23horizontallyyaligned with the intermediate void 22 and two voids 24 and25, one above the other` and elongated Vertically in an oblong fashionso thatV they extend directly opposite practically the entire major void20 or 2l.

The above defined construction of the interior of the block produces,when the block stands as shown in Fig. 1 or islaid Vertical as in Fig.11, four load bearing members for each block, namely, the parts 10, I 4,15 and Il. The transverse shell members 12 and i3 which are preferablySlightly thicker than any of the Vertical members indi- Vidually,provides anpeffective mortar bed with ample strength to bridge the majorvoid when the block is horizontal and With suficient crosssection toform an eifective column when` the block is laid with the voidsVertical. The two intermediate webs l'l and l8 very effectively bracethe side members. Finally, the small voids provide space into which themortar will pass sufficiently to key the mortar effectively to theblock.

By providing the two Vertical webs Il and lE set in from the shellmembers lo and H and periodically connected -therewith by the portionsextending across the small voids, I accomplishv several Valuableresults. First, I obtain the desired amount of material for load bearingpurposes without making a wall so thick that it is difiicult to extrudeor burn. By maintaining all ofthe thicknesses of nearly the same amount,I very materially reduce the unevenness of drying of different portionswith its consequent liability to cracking the product. Second, byarranging the intermediate webs M and l5 Within the block instead ofproviding simply a thicker wall, I reduce the span of the horizontalmembers IZ and 93 of the shell and thus form a more effective supportfor the same when the block is laid horizontally, and a more effectivebracing when these 5 members stand as columns with the block laidVertically. Finally, the end portions of the webs and shells provideample mortar beds for the ends of the block while allowing such bedtobekeyed to the block by reason of the minor voids shown. 10

- The relative dimensioning of my blocksl is also an important factorlinthe result accomplished.v Modern brick have a length equal to the thickeness of three bricks plus two mortar joints, and I use such dimension asthe key dimension tor15 the length and height of my block; that is tosay, the side face of my primary block is square, the height and lengthbeing equal to a length of brick, while the transverse dimension, asalready stated, is preferably six inches. I 20 I find that Veryconvenientsubdivisions of this block for building walls comprise thehalf block shown in Fig. 2, and designated B, which may be made bysimply breaking the block of Flg. 1 through the line of middle voids23-22 or may be 2,55 extruded individually, while by cutting the blockof Fig. 2 in half by a line of severance parallel with the end, Iproduce the so-*called quarter block G, shown in Fig. 12, which standingon end is very suitable for a closure. Fig. 3 has the interior formationofthe block of Fig. 1, but is substantially two-thirds thelengththereof; and finally, the block D of Fig. 4 is the same as the block ofFig. l with'the stepcut out of it, which step 1s dimensiened te `receivethe 35.' projecting portion of a header course with proper horizontaland Vertical mortar-joints.v L The blocks of Figs. 5 and 6 are built-ona different basis. The block E of Fig. 5 has the brick length and thesubstantially six-inch Width of 40 vFig. 1, but has a height equal to*`that of one brick. This block is made in three* connected units, that isto say, it has horizontal shells 30 f and 3| extending from' one side tothe other and Vertical shells 32 and 33, and four intermediate 45; v

wall with a course of facing brick and my blocks,

I may combine either the blocks of Figs. `1 and 4 or the blocks of Figs.1, 3 and 6. Figs. 7 and 8 v illustrate the first of these combinationswherein e the blocks A'and D are alternated one above the other and thefacing of brick comprises running QD courses P and occasional headercourses Qwhich extend into the spaceprovided by the steps of v the blockD. In Figs. 9 and 10A the backing wally comprises the blocks C, F and Arepeating in that manner, thus leaving spaces between the block C andthe block A for a header course.

In standard brick-laying it is customary to make every sixth course aheader course, and my system of tile units is adapted for such layv70ing, as illustrated in Fig. 9, where the two headery courses appear at Qand the five intermediate v running courses at P. It will be seen thatthe block C plus the block F takes the place of the w stepping block D,So that the same system-of brick 75 The block c ef 3.0..

facing with header courses -is adapted 'for either system of backing.

y`Fig. 1.1 illustrates two walls meeting `at=a corner composed of theblocks A, Bfand E. The lower course-is shownV as having afcorner blockBstandingl on end and then a block A standing sideways extending towardthe right followed by afblock A endwise, two blocks sidewise, oneendwise, and so on. At the left of block B, that is, adjacent itsSmaller side face, I place theblock EJ standing on end, which overlapsand bonds with Athe block A at the right of block B, and then beyond theblock E toward the left I indicate two blocks, a horizontal and oneVertical, andiso on. Now Ithe surmounting course, which in the figure isshown raised for clearness of illustration, has at the corner the blocksB and -'E,`but now lwith the wide dimension of block B extending in theother direction and with the block 'E at the right of B instead of atthe left. Then toward the le'ft I employ one block A flatwise 'and thena block A vertically, and to the right of block E I employ two flatwiseblocks A instead of one fiatwise block as in the lowercourse.

The illustrative arrangement just described causes the second course tobond very effectively with the first course. For instance, the mortarjoint between the corner block B and the .block E and the joint betweenthe block lE and the block A of the upper course, come on the flat faceof a block A of the lower course; while the mortar joints between theblocks E, B and A of the lowerl 'course come against a flat face of thislower and upperl course block A. The junction of the twoadjacenthorizontal blocks A of the upper course comes over the 'centerof the Vertical blocks A of the lower course, and the Vertical blocks Aof the upper course bridge the space between two horizontal blocks ofthe lower course, and so on.

In the described method of laying the wall, it will be seen that eachcourse is effectively bonded with the adjacent course. Moreover, exceptas to the corner blocks B, the voids of each block are sealed at the endof the block by the flat face of adjacent blocks extending across them.Moreover, the small voids adjacent the shells of my blocks and theintermediate transverse void form spaces forkeying the mortar bed acrosssuch end whether the blocks are end-set or laid flatwise.

Sometimes it is desirable to lay up all tile with the faces exposed inthe form of an attractive pattern. My block units are admirably adaptedfor this purpose, as illustrated, for instance, in Figs, v13 and 14,composed of the blocks A, B and G, the blocks B having their voidsextending horizontally and b-locks A and G have them extending eitherhorizontally or vertically as desired, the solid face of all of theblocks being aligned in the visible wall.

The pattern formation of Fig. 13 gives a mortar bed R over two blocks Band beneath one block A and two blocks G; a mortar bed S over one blockA and two blocks G, and then one continuous horizontal mortar bed T overthe blocks A and B, and various Vertical mortar beds at the edges ofeach block. This wall unit, which one might call a block and a halfhigh, is successively repeated, one course above the other, as the wallis laid out, producing the attractive pattern shown.

Fig. 14; illustrates another pattern arrangement of these blocks whereinthe blocks A are laid up in step fashion one directly above the otherand the space filled in at the top and bottom by blocks B and G and thesmall square spaces filled by the blocks G, as shown. This gives thepattern illusztrated with J'comparatively'short horizontal and-Lvertical mortar' beds. patterns may be made by suitably grouping theVarious other attractive blockunits shown. lWhen 'the-'blocks are to beused to produce a pattern, they maybe smooth or given such tex- Vtureface as desired. For back-up purposes or yplastered walls, the blocksare scored in the usual manner, as illustrated, for instance, in Fig. l.

'It will be apparent from `the description given that I have produced asystem of vwall construc- .ftion'by the use of a comparatively fewdifferent units of hollow tile, Which provides lfor'layingup of the tilein various manners; enablesvthe voids of veach *block to. be sealed byrcason of the flat faces of adjacent blocks, and enables the very readyproduction of a brick-faced wall of a very desirable thickness greaterthan that of two brick A'courses without resorting to the thiokness ofthree 'brick courses.

When the blocks are used for back-up purposes in conjunction withbrickthe course of horizontal 'blocks associated with each course ofend-set blocks, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9, prevents theaccumulaltionof mortar in the bottom of the wall,

which is a disadvantage resulting with the usual end-set tileconstruction. With my wall, the mortar droppings are arrested by eachside-set tile Course.

lf it is desired to provide a twelve-inch wall, this may-be veryreadily'effected by using two tiers of my six-inchvtile blocks suitablybonded at desired intervals. This bonding may, for instance, be

|effected byiplacing a course of the blocks E endset across the mortarline between the two tiers inches instead of merely the present brickdiffer-` ence of four inches. To illustrate: a six-inch partition may bemade by a single tier of my blocks; an eight-inch Wall by two bricktiers; a

substantially ten-inch Wall by my blocks and one brick tier; atwelve-inch wall by two tiers of my block; a fourteen-inch wall by myblocks faced with brick on opposite sides, and so on. By thus cuttingrin half the runit of difference lbetween successive widths of wall,walls can be built to fulfill more accurately the stress requirements atany particular location, with greater economy and an increase in theresulting space within the building.

I claim:

1. A masonry construction made of hollow building blocks and mortar,each block being of rectangular cross section and having two internalwebs adjacent to and parallel with their longer faces and periodicallyconnected therewith in a manner to form minor voids Which are no widerthan the webs, and having major voids extending from end to end, saidconstruction comprising a course of blocks such as aforesaid some of thevoids of which are horizontal and some of which are Vertical, and asurmounting course such as aforesaid with the blocks having their voidsvertical where they were horizontal in the lower course and horizontalWhere they were verticaL'whereby four Vertical load-supporting membersare provided by each block and the voids of each block are sealed attheir ends by flat faces of adjacent blocks.

2. A masonry construction made' of hollow building blocks and mortar,eachblock having voids extending from end to end and having internalwebs, said construction co-mprising courses of said blocks some with thevoids horizontal parallel to the Wall and some with the voids Vertical,other courses of said blocks, wherein the blocks have their voidsVertical where they were horizontal in the adjacent course andhorizontal where they were Vertical, whereby the voids are sealed attheir ends by flat faces of adjacent blocks, and blocks of rectangularcross-section having through voids, set vertically to make closures atthe corners,

there being an additional wide and thin block set endwise adjacent thenarrow side of each corner block and extending beyond the same to bondwith l the block adjacent block.

3. A hollow building block which, when laid with its voids horizontal,comprises Vertical and the wide side of the corner horizontal shellmembers, two internal Vertical section, having parallel voids extendingfrom end to end, said block when laid with the voids horizontal having ashell composed of two Vertical members and two horizontal members, twointernal Vertical webs spaced adjacent the Vertical members andperiodically connected therewith, -and two cross webs equidistant fromrespective horizontal members, connecting the internal vertical webs andcontinuously spaced from each other from Vertical web to Vertical web.

5. A masonry construction made of hollow` of sizes adequate to receivethe projecting headers v with upper and lower mortar beds, said headersextending materially more than half way and less than three quarters ofthe way across the hollow tile thereby producing a Wall having a Widthgreater than that of two bricks side by side, laid fiatwise, and lessthan that of three bricks side by side and laid flatwise.

6. In masonry construction, a wall .composed of hollow building blocksWith through parallel voids, bricks and mortar, said wall comprisingsurmounting normal courses of brick and mortar With occasional headercourses, said blocks when set With their voids horizontal being ofheights corresponding to the height of a plurality of bricks plus anumber of mortar joints one less than the number of bricks,- thewalllhaving blocks set as aforesaid opposite and horizontally aligned Withsuch plurality of bricks of the normal brick courses, other blocks ofthe same section as those just mentioned being set with their voidsVertical and overlapped by the inwardly extending headerV brick, saidother blocks set as stated, corresponding in height to the combinedheight of the adjacent normal brick courses plus their separating mortarjoints, and separate header blockslocated between the block coursesaforesaid and in horizontal alignment with the header brick. i

FREIDERICK I-IEATH.

